WASHINGTON—Sasha Cohen bristles at suggestions that she lacks what it takes to win Olympic gold.
"Everyone seems to like to pin that label on me," the 21-year-old American said, shaking her head. "'Will she do two good programs?'
"I think that's a little unfair. I will say honestly that I haven't very often skated perfect programs back-to-back. But then again not many other people do, or have."
Many believe, however, that the chief reason she finally became U.S. champion after four runner-up finishes was because injured rival Michelle Kwan did not compete.
At next month's Turin Olympics, Cohen would love to grab the gold medal and prove the naysayers wrong. History, however, is not on her side.
At the Salt Lake City Games four years ago, Cohen was primed for a podium finish but stumbled in her long program and finished a disappointing fourth.
"It's definitely not easy, trying and competing in front of thousands of people," she said at a media summit for the U.S. Olympic team in Colorado Springs.
"It's been preparation, perhaps lack of experience, not understanding what you should be thinking going in. Those are the things you learn from.
"I think everything I've done in the past has made me who I am today."
Armstrong Inspiration
Cohen believes the only thing standing between her and Olympic immortality is confidence.
"Right now I'm reading Lance Armstrong's book," she said. "He's so motivational. I really enjoy reading what other athletes go through. We're in similar positions.
"The more experience you get, the more confidence you get to build off of. Mentally, confidence is what you need to be successful."
Former Olympic gold medalist Brian Boitano believes Cohen's reputation for failing to live up to her potential is "a bad rap".
"She makes one mistake in a program and people are like, 'There it is. Here she goes again'," Boitano told Reuters in an interview. "It's not fair."
"But at the same time it is frustrating. She hits the hard stuff and then misses the easy stuff. That can get into your psyche."
Cohen has reunited with her former coach John Nix in the hope of winning the gold in Italy. He says, "Most people in the community think she's the most talented skater in the world. We're just waiting for her to realize that."
Blessing in Disguise
Brian Boitano, the 1988 Olympic men's figure skating champion, believes Cohen may be overlooked as a gold-medal contender in Turin and that may play to her advantage.
"If people discount Sasha so much she can say, 'I'm going to prove you wrong', she can turn that fear into aggression. And that can be a powerful tool.
"She can say, 'I have no pressure. No one thinks I can win. I'm just going to go out there and do it.'
Despite Cohen's problems dealing with stress, Boitano said she is "definitely in the mix" for a gold medal when the Games begin on Feb. 10.
"There's a lot of pressure out there," he said. "We'll just have to see how Sasha reacts to it."
